Holiness: His Heart through My Life
Hello Friends! Welcome back to our Journey of realizing God’s Mind and Heart through our lives. Last time we talked about our intentions for a relationship with God. It is very important to personally pray and ponder our deepest desires for God. It is the heart of the matter. Sadly, this is where many of us falter… I did, for many years. According to recent surveys of Christians who read the Bible regularly (2020), that percentage, is currently just under 10%, according to the ABS (American Bible Society). It is sad, but understandable why so many of us struggle in this relationship. Here are some key thoughts and questions we should personally consider in all of this:
- Why is reading the Bible so important? God has given us two ways to know Him: Natural Revelation: throughout His amazing Creation of Life in all it’s systems here, and throughout all of Space; and Spiritual Revelation: God, the Holy Spirit used Men throughout the centuries to write down God’s eternal message to all Mankind (Male and Female). Through the scriptures, we discover God’s unique traits, personality, mind and heart. We see not only what He is all about, but also “why”. As our Heavenly Father, He seeks to have His children, His people be of the same mind and heart as He is. “To be Holy, as He is Holy”, and to reflect His ways through our lives.
- How is the Bible relevant for my life in today’s Culture? Glad you asked!! As we read throughout the Bible of the “Real” people dealing with their personal everyday “stuff” of life, we see them warts and all… and He was there! Fact is, just as then, in our struggles, God has a plan for all of life. Throughout all the Social circles and patterns of our current culture, there is no direction, no new wave; where God has not already spoken; and given us the answers we need for life in His Word. As we said last time…
“Many of the Biblical situations conveyed in God’s Word have a direct application to our culture and lives today. Yes, it was a different culture; but the “teachable moment” is still the same. God’s Word, His Truth and His Wisdom, never changes…Culture does.”
Heartlife
- Why is the Bible so hard to understand? You are right… it is. I know it too. But like any desired knowledge and understanding you need for your life, whether in school, your career, hobby, whatever; your resolve “desire” to know and understand will be tested. To underscore this, consider two different scenarios of “Real Life” from God’s Word. First, take a look at 2Kings 5:1-19. Here Naaman’s resolve is tested in order to bring about God’s healing of his leprosy and bring him to faith in God. Next, read in Acts 8: 25-40 of the account of the Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. the Eunuch was a Believer in God who had come to worship in Jerusalem. he was struggling, as we all do with certain passages of scripture that he was trying to understand. he so desired to understand and to know God better… but didn’t know who Jesus was. Phillip miraculously came on the scene to help him and taught him of Jesus and the Eunuch went away rejoicing for all that God had shown him today, all the way back home to Ethiopia! I so love this! It’s the same way for us today. I admit the first few times of reading God’s Word through, Genesis to Revelation… it was tough! So much to see and begin to process. Yet now, after reading, praying and pondering basically a chapter a day over the last 10-12 years, (4 times completely), I have such a better understanding of our Heavenly Father, and His glorious plan for all Mankind. His laws, precepts and insights on life that provide wisdom and discernment every day. It is truly an amazing adventure! I find the more I glean from God’s Word, the more I can see God at work in and around me in my daily life. It’s our Prayer at Heartlife that you begin this journey for yourself… you will never regret it! #EverydayHeartlife4God Real Transformation…Inside Out! ♥